Ernst: Dan Lobeck get under Rex Jensen's skin? Just a little

Every once in a while, a provocative exchange enlivens the sometimes arcane world of county government.

There was a notable one recently between Rex Jensen and Dan Lobeck.

Jensen is the president of Shroeder-Manatee Ranch, the developer of Lakewood Ranch. Lobeck is a land-use attorney, who often opines on growth issues.

In this case, Lobeck had sent to his mailing list an email opposing Sarasota County's plan to sell "development rights" on county land for prices significantly below their real value.

He pointed out that the price was based on a consultant's recommendation, which in turn was based, according to the consultant, on the advice of "one particularly successful Sarasota and Manatee County developer." Lobeck surmised the advisor was probably Jensen or developer Pat Neal.

Apparently, Jensen was not the advisor, and it didn't take him long to respond. "The next time you take my name in vain and in error, be prepared for a series of very bad days you walking manure pile," Jensen wrote to Lobeck via his Blackberry.

Anyone familiar with Lobeck knows he likes to get the last word: "My, my," he shot back. "I thought it was only God whose name we were not to take in vain. Or does holy wrath come from big developers as well, in addition to pointed threats and juvenile insults?"

It's easy to see why Lobeck gets under people's skin, which he does especially when he interferes with their business, which he often tries to do.

But the rest of us should be thankful there's someone like him around.

We certainly understand his orientation.

He's head of an organization called Stop Growth Now. Not Control Growth Now; not Manage Growth Now, just stop it altogether.

It's a radical position.

But even those of us who don't want to stop growth cold can benefit from Lobeck's involvement. Have you ever tried to read the county's comprehensive growth plan or its underlying zoning code? Most of us might understand the words and sentences, but we'd be hard-pressed to say with certainty how they would play out when the time comes to build a subdivision or a shopping center.

It takes interpretation to put those words and sentences into action. Lobeck gives us an interpretation. That doesn't make it gospel. He makes mistakes just like any of us.

But in an area in which most land-use attorneys work for developers and business interests who benefit financially by having government create rules in a specific way, it's nice to have those rules evaluated by an informed, trained observer who's not representing a client.

Then we can analyze the presentations, consider the sources, and come to our own conclusions.

As for Jensen's rebuke, Lobeck shouldn't take it personally. It's just business. And, as in most experiences in life, we can draw a reference from the old Seinfeld television series in which the character, George, once said, "Horse manure's not that bad. I don't even mind the word manure. It's newer, which is good, and a 'ma' in front of it. 'Ma-newer.' When you consider the other choices, manure is actually pretty refreshing."